Top Items:
Mike Dorning / Bloomberg:
Obama Rated at 3-Year High in Poll, Republicans at Bottom — President Barack Obama enters the latest budget showdown with Congress with his highest job- approval rating in three years and public support for his economic message, while his Republican opponents' popularity stands at a record low.
Discussion:
The National Memo, Taegan Goddard's …, Shakesville, The Reaction, Politico, The Hill, Prairie Weather, The Moderate Voice, Daily Kos and alan.com
RELATED:
USA Today:
On issues, public is more aligned with Obama than GOP — SETTING A NATIONAL AGENDA: WHAT NEEDS TO GET DONE THIS YEAR? — In a USA TODAY/Pew Research Center Poll, Americans were asked how urgent it was for President Obama and Congress to pass major legislation on some top issues this year.
Discussion:
ABCNEWS, msnbc.com, Daily Kos, Taylor Marsh and Balloon Juice
Numbers / Pew Research Center for the People …:
If No Deal is Struck, Four-in-Ten Say Let the Sequester Happen — Deficit Reduction: Focus Mostly on Spending But Keep Taxes in Mix — OVERVIEW — After a series of fiscal crises over the past few years, the public is not expressing a particular sense of urgency over the pending March 1 sequester deadline.
Discussion:
Firedoglake, Washington Post, The Plum Line, The Hill, Prairie Weather and Washington Examiner
Talking Points Memo:
McCain Jeered At Town Hall After Opposing Mass Deportation — Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) got an earful from his constituents in his home state while defending his bipartisan immigration plan at a town hall. — According to the Associated Press, an “angry crowd” reacted negatively as McCain described …
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars and Post Politics
RELATED:
Rachelle Younglai / Reuters:
Majority of U.S. citizens say illegal immigrants should be deported
Majority of U.S. citizens say illegal immigrants should be deported
Discussion:
Boston Herald, Shakesville, Weasel Zippers, Right Wing News and American Power
Meghashyam Mali / The Hill:
Sen. Cruz: Obama trying to ‘scuttle’ immigration reform
Sen. Cruz: Obama trying to ‘scuttle’ immigration reform
Discussion:
Politico and Trail Blazers Blog
Jason Horowitz / Washington Post:
Republican senator John McCain is still raising questions and hackles
Republican senator John McCain is still raising questions and hackles
Discussion:
Althouse, The Fix and Booman Tribune
Quinnipiac News + Events:
Release Detail — February 21, 2013 - Donor Controversy Takes Toll On NJ Senator, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Booker Tops Rivera 2-1 In 2014 Senate Race — New Jersey voters disapprove 41 - 36 percent of the job U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez is doing, a 15-point drop in less than a month …
Discussion:
Politico, Hot Air, The Hill, NBC Latino and Capital New York
RELATED:
Kevin Liptak / CNN:
Poll: Menendez allegations take toll; Geraldo unpopular
Poll: Menendez allegations take toll; Geraldo unpopular
Discussion:
The Gateway Pundit, The Rightnewz and Politico
Erick Erickson / RedState:
I Am Very Disappointed in Governor Rick Scott — I was one of the few conservatives to support Governor Scott in 2010. He is a fundamentally great person. I really like him. He has been a friend to this site. — But I am terribly disappointed in his decision to expand Medicaid in Florida.
Discussion:
Bloomberg, Taylor Marsh, New York Times, The Raw Story, Hot Air and Washington Monthly
RELATED:
Tia Mitchell / Tampa Bay Times:
Gov. Rick Scott, feds reach Medicaid deal
Gov. Rick Scott, feds reach Medicaid deal
Discussion:
The Maddow Blog, Politico, msnbc.com, Naked Politics, Washington Examiner, Daily Kos, Mother Jones and Joe. My. God.
South Florida / Orlando Sentinel:
Florida Gov. Rick Scott proposes expansion of Medicaid to add 1 million uninsured
Florida Gov. Rick Scott proposes expansion of Medicaid to add 1 million uninsured
Discussion:
Mother Jones
Sam Baker / The Hill:
Florida governor backs Medicaid expansion under ‘ObamaCare’
Florida governor backs Medicaid expansion under ‘ObamaCare’
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, Politico, Sun-Sentinel, Associated Press, Tampa Bay Times and CNN
John Stanton / BuzzFeed:
Ed Markey Compares Campaign Finance Ruling To Decision Upholding Slavery — “The Dred Scott decision had to be repealed, we have to repeal Citizens United,” Massachusetts Democrat says days after meeting with black clergy. — Image by Josh Reynolds / AP — WASHINGTON — Rep. Ed Markey …
Discussion:
Berkshire Eagle Online, Union-News, Post Politics and Washington Free Beacon
RELATED:
T.W. Farnam / Washington Post:
McCutcheon case could give Citizens United a run for its money in Supreme Court
McCutcheon case could give Citizens United a run for its money in Supreme Court
Discussion:
The Fix, PostPartisan and Twitchy
Kevin Cirilli / Politico:
Jimmy Carter: No relationship with Obama — Former President Jimmy Carter says he has no relationship with President Barack Obama and wishes that he did. — “We don't have any relationship much. I met with him early in his administration. We don't really have any relationship,” …
Discussion:
CNN
Maggie Haberman / Politico:
Sensing weakness, Karl Rove's critics pounce — For the first time in a dozen years, Karl Rove's critics smell blood. — After his electoral wipeout in November — and motivated by years of resentment that's spilling over — Rove's credibility within his own party is at an all-time low.
Discussion:
msnbc.com and Firedoglake
Glenn Thrush / Politico:
John Kerry: The un-Hillary Clinton — John Kerry is no Hillary Clinton — and he's OK with that. — In the three weeks since Kerry succeeded Clinton as secretary of state, he's already sent unmistakable signals of his independence with a more assertive, proactive and risk-taking stewardship …
Tom Benning / Trail Blazers Blog:
Former first lady Laura Bush asks to be removed from newly launched pro-gay marriage ad campaign — Former first lady Laura Bush is asking a pro-gay marriage group to remove her from a national television, newspaper and online advertising campaign that launched this week.
Discussion:
Politico, Mediaite, Towleroad News #gay, Taylor Marsh, msnbc.com, Respect for Marriage News and Daily Kos
RELATED:
USA Today:
Preschool debate obscures core problem: Our view … ‘Fragile families’ harm children's development. — In the eyes of many parents and most educators, starting a child's schooling before kindergarten is an indisputable virtue. Your kid acquires learning and social skills that give him or her an advantage.
Discussion:
National Review
Greg Campbell / The Daily Caller:
Rick Perry wants Colorado gun magazine maker to move to Texas — Texas governor and former GOP presidential candidate Rick Perry is rolling out a Texas-sized red carpet for Magpul Industries, the Colorado gun-parts manufacturer that has vowed to find greener pastures if a bill banning high …
Discussion:
The Gateway Pundit, Weasel Zippers and Trail Blazers Blog
RELATED:
Kevin Liptak / CNN:
Rand Paul returns more money to Treasury — (CNN) - Sen. Rand Paul cut another six-figure check to the United States Treasury Wednesday, taking the money he said he didn't need from his office's budget to make a tiny dent in the nation's massive federal debt.
Tom Beardsworth / Cherwell.org:
George Galloway in anti-Israel storm — Content on this page requires a newer version of Adobe Flash Player. — To view the video directly, please click here — Video: Eylon Aslan-Levy — George Galloway, the Respect MP for Bradford West, has been accused by Oxford students of anti-semitism.
Discussion:
Telegraph, Guardian and Michael J. Totten's blog
Alex Eliseev / ewn.co.za:
First on EWN: Pistorius cop facing ‘drunken’ shooting charges — JOHANNESBURG - Eyewitness News has learnt that the investigating officer in Oscar Pistorius' criminal case is in fact facing seven counts of attempted murder. — The charges are related to a shooting incident which occurred …
Jonathan Weisman / New York Times:
G.O.P. Resisting Obama on Tax Increase — WASHINGTON — House Republicans, shrugging off rising pressure from President Obama, are resolutely opposing new tax increases to head off $85 billion in across-the-board spending reductions, all but ensuring the cuts will go into force March 1 …
Billy Hallowell / TheBlaze.com:
COLUMBINE SURVIVOR PENS BOLD OPEN LETTER TO OBAMA REJECTING GUN CONTROL: ‘WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON?’ — Columbine survivor Evan Todd released an open letter to President Barack Obama on Wednesday in which he offers a point-by-point analysis of proposed firearms control initiatives …
Discussion:
Shot in the Dark and The Other McCain
Byron Tau / Politico:
NRA raises $1.1M in January — The National Rifle Association's political action committee raised $1.1 million in January, according to the committee's latest filing with the Federal Election Commission. — It's the NRA's best fundraising month since August 2012 — and reflects growing concern …
John Robertson / Albuquerque Journal:
Ex-Sen. Domenici discloses son born in secrecy — Former New Mexico Sen. Pete Domenici told the Journal on Tuesday he fathered a son outside of his marriage over 30 years ago, revealing a secret kept for decades. — Statements given to the Journal by Domenici and the son's mother …